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World Population by Religion 2023
Over the last two thousand years, mainly two religious thoughts dominated the world’s religious landscape. Indian religions, which include Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, etc., and the Abrahamic religions, such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. In addition, people in many countries practice various folk or traditional religions, including African traditional religions, Chinese folk religions, Native American religions, and Australian aboriginal religions. Worldwide, more than 84% of people identify with a religious group.
As of 2023, Christianity was by far the world’s largest religion, with an estimated 2.38 billion adherents, nearly a third (31.1%) of all 7.66 billion people on Earth. Islam was second, with 1.9 billion adherents, or 24.9% of the global population.
The unaffiliated population in the world is around 1.2 billion people or 15.6% of the global population. Hinduism was fourth, with 1.16 billion adherents, or 15.2% of the global population followed by Buddhists with 500 million adherents, or 6.6% of the global population.
Adherents of various folk religions – including African traditional religions, Chinese folk religions, Native American religions, and Australian aboriginal religions account for 430 million (5.6%) of the world population.
And all other religions combined – an umbrella category that includes Jews, Baha’is, Jains, Sikhs, Taoists, and many smaller faiths are approximately 61 million or 1% of the world population.
Source: Pew Research Center
Christianity was the world’s largest religion, followed by Islam in the second spot. Hinduism is in third place followed by Buddhism. In addition, more than 400 million people practice various folk or traditional religions, including African traditional religions, Chinese folk religions, Native American religions, and Australian aboriginal religions.
An estimated 58 million people – slightly less than 1% of the global population – belong to other religions, including the Baha’i faith, Jainism, Sikhism, Shintoism, Taoism, Tenrikyo, Wicca and Zoroastrianism, and other smaller faiths.
Let’s look at the world population by adherents
| Religion | Population 2020 |
| Christians | 2,382,750,000 |
| Muslims | 1,907,110,000 |
| Unaffiliated | 1,193,750,000 |
| Hindus | 1,161,440,000 |
| Buddhists | 506,990,000 |
| Folk Religions | 429,640,000 |
| Other Religions | 60,990,000 |
| Jews | 14,660,000 |
| All Religions | 7,657,330,000 |
Folk and Other Smaller religions
Other major folk religions include African traditional religions, Chinese folk religions, Native American religions, and Australian aboriginal religions. Smaller religions include Baha’is, Jains, Sikhs, Taoists, and many smaller faiths.
| Folk and smaller Religion estimates | Population 2020 |
| Chinese traditional religion | 394 million |
| Ethnic religions | 300 million |
| African traditional religions | 100 million |
| Sikhism | 26 million |
| Spiritism | 15 million |
| Judaism | 14.7 million |
| Baháʼí | 5.0 million |
| Jainism | 4.2 million |
| Shinto | 4.0 million |
| Cao Dai | 4.0 million |
| Zoroastrianism | 2.6 million |
| Tenrikyo | 2.0 million |
| Animism | 1.9 million |
| Neo-Paganism | 1.0 million |
| Unitarian Universalism | 0.8 million |
| Rastafari | 0.6 million |
Source: Pew Research Center
Religion in World by Percentage
| All Religions | Percentage 2020 |
| Christians | 31.1% |
| Muslims | 24.9% |
| Unaffiliated | 15.6% |
| Hindus | 15.2% |
| Buddhists | 6.6% |
| Folk Religions | 5.6% |
| Jews | < 1.0% |
| Other Religions | < 1.0% |
Folk and Smaller religions by percentage
| Folk and Other Religions | Percentage |
| Chinese traditional religion | 5% |
| Ethnic religions | 3% |
| African traditional religions | 1.20% |
| Sikhism | 0.30% |
| Spiritism | 0.19% |
| Judaism | 0.18% |
| Baháʼí | 0.07% |
| Jainism | 0.05% |
| Shinto | 0.05% |
| Cao Dai | 0.05% |
| Zoroastrianism | 0.03% |
| Tenrikyo | 0.02% |
| Animism | 0.02% |
| Neo-Paganism | 0.01% |
| Unitarian Universalism | 0.01% |
| Rastafari | 0.01% |
Source: Pew Research Center
Religious Geographical Distribution
Out of all the world religions, Christians are the most evenly distributed in World. Muslims are concentrated in the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. Hinduism, Buddhism, and folk regions are majorly in the Asia Pacific.
Roughly equal numbers of Christians live in Europe (26%), Latin America and the Caribbean (24%), and sub-Saharan Africa (24%). The Asia-Pacific region also is home to most of the world’s Muslims (62%). About 20% of Muslims live in the Middle East and North Africa, and nearly 16% reside in sub-Saharan Africa.
Several religious groups are heavily concentrated in the Asia-Pacific region, including the vast majority of Hindus (99%), Buddhists (99%), adherents of folk or traditional religions (90%), and members of other world religions (89%). Three-quarters of the religiously unaffiliated (76%) also live in the massive and populous Asia- Pacific region. The unaffiliated population is also growing at a good pace in Europe and the Americas.
Percentage-wise religion geographical distribution
| Region | Christians | Muslims | Hindus | Buddhists | Folk Religions | Other Religions | Unaffiliated |
| Asia-Pacific | 7.2% | 25.7% | 26.0% | 11.3% | 8.6% | 1.2% | 20.0% |
| Europe | 72.2% | 6.8% | < 1.0% | < 1.0% | < 1.0% | < 1.0% | 20.0% |
| Latin America-Caribbean | 89.7% | < 1.0% | < 1.0% | < 1.0% | 1.8% | < 1.0% | 8.0% |
| Middle East-North Africa | 3.6% | 93.1% | < 1.0% | < 1.0% | < 1.0% | < 1.0% | < 1.0% |
| North America | 74.6% | 1.3% | < 1.0% | 1.2% | < 1.0% | < 1.0% | 19.2% |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 62.0% | 31.4% | < 1.0% | < 1.0% | 3.2% | < 1.0 | 3.0% |
source: Pew research center
Top Countries by Christian Population
The United States is the country with the Largest Christian population in the world. It has an estimated 252 million people who adhere to Christianity. With a 185 million Christain population, Brazil is in second place followed by Mexico (118 million). The Philippines with a 102 million Christian population is in 4th place closely followed by Russia (101 million) in the fifth spot.
Top 10 Countries by Christian Population
| Rank | Country | Christian Population 2020 | % Christian in Country |
| 1 | United States | 252,870,000 | 75.48% |
| 2 | Brazil | 185,430,000 | 88.11% |
| 3 | Mexico | 118,570,000 | 94.10% |
| 4 | Philippines | 102,320,000 | 92.36% |
| 5 | Russia | 101,900,000 | 72.91% |
| 6 | Nigeria | 96,080,000 | 46.94% |
| 7 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 81,520,000 | 95.84% |
| 8 | China | 72,410,000 | 5.21% |
| 9 | Ethiopia | 62,610,000 | 61.93% |
| 10 | Germany | 53,190,000 | 66.04% |
read more about Top Countries with Christian population
Top Countries by Muslim Population
Indonesia is the country with the Largest Muslim population in the world. It has an estimated 23 million people who adhere to Islam. India with 21 million is in second place closely followed by Pakistan (20 million). Bangladesh with a 153 million Muslim population is in 4th place followed by Nigeria (10 million) in the fifth spot.
Top 10 countries by the Muslim population
| Rank | Country | Muslims | % Muslims |
| 1 | Indonesia | 229,620,000 | 87.01% |
| 2 | India | 213,340,000 | 15.38% |
| 3 | Pakistan | 200,490,000 | 96.45% |
| 4 | Bangladesh | 153,010,000 | 90.76% |
| 5 | Nigeria | 104,650,000 | 51.13% |
| 6 | Egypt | 90,420,000 | 95.31% |
| 7 | Iran | 80,880,000 | 99.54% |
| 8 | Turkey | 79,090,000 | 98.03% |
| 9 | Iraq | 41,430,000 | 99.04% |
| 10 | Afghanistan | 40,610,000 | 99.73% |
read more about Top Countries with Muslim population
Top Countries by Hindu Population
India is the country with the Largest Hindu population in the world. It has an estimated 1.10 billion people who adhere to Hinduism. With a 28 million Hindu population, Nepal is in second place followed by Bangladesh (14 million). Indonesia with a 4.2 million Hindu population is in 4th place closely followed by Pakistan (4 million) in the fifth spot.
Top 10 countries by Hindu Population
| Rank | Country | Hindus Population 2020 | % Hindus |
| 1 | India | 1,093,780,000 | 78.86% |
| 2 | Nepal | 28,600,000 | 80.59% |
| 3 | Bangladesh | 13,790,000 | 8.18% |
| 4 | Indonesia | 4,210,000 | 1.60% |
| 5 | Pakistan | 3,990,000 | 1.92% |
| 6 | Sri Lanka | 3,090,000 | 13.73% |
| 7 | United States | 2,510,000 | 0.75% |
| 8 | Malaysia | 1,940,000 | 5.82% |
| 9 | United Kingdom | 1,030,000 | 1.60% |
| 10 | Burma (Myanmar) | 890,000 | 1.71% |
Read more about Top Countries by Hindu Population
Top Countries by Buddisht Population
China is the country with the Largest Buddhist population in the world. It has an estimated 255 million people who adhere to Buddhism. With a 66 million Buddhist population, Thailand is in second place followed by Myanmar (41 million). Japan with a 41 million Buddhist population is in 4th place followed by Cambodia (16 million) in the fifth spot.
Let’s have a Top 10 countries in the world by the Buddhist population.
| Rank | Country | Buddhists Population 2020 | % of Total Country Population |
| 1 | China | 254,700,000 | 18.33% |
| 2 | Thailand | 66,120,000 | 92.58% |
| 3 | Burma (Myanmar) | 41,440,000 | 79.83% |
| 4 | Japan | 41,380,000 | 33.19% |
| 5 | Cambodia | 15,690,000 | 96.79% |
| 6 | Vietnam | 15,560,000 | 16.15% |
| 7 | Sri Lanka | 15,440,000 | 68.59% |
| 8 | South Korea | 10,950,000 | 21.95% |
| 9 | India | 10,140,000 | 0.73% |
| 10 | Malaysia | 5,220,000 | 15.65% |
Source: Pew Research Center
Read more about Top Countries by Buddhist Population
Top Countries by Jews Population
Israel is the country with the Largest Jews population in the world. It has an estimated 6.3 million people who adhere to Judaism. With a 5.7 million Jews population, the United States is in second place followed by Canada.
Let’s have a Top 10 countries in the world by the Jews population.
| Region | Country | Est. Jews population 2020 |
| 1 | Israel | 6,360,000 |
| 2 | United States | 5,700,000 |
| 3 | Canada | 420,000 |
| 4 | France | 340,000 |
| 5 | United Kingdom | 270,000 |
| 6 | Germany | 220,000 |
| 7 | Russia | 200,000 |
| 8 | Argentina | 200,000 |
| 9 | Australia | 120,000 |
| 10 | Brazil | 110,000 |
Source: Pew Research Center